Electric impedance network



April 28, 1953 w. SARAGA ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE NETWORK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1948 FREQUENCY ATTENUATION Ill DEC BELS 8 V1 w MM r w. ,A

Patented Apr. 28, 1953 2,636,9 l 1 ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE NETWORK Wolja Saraga, Kent, England, assignor to Telephone Manufacturing Company Limited, London, England, a British company Application August 9, 1948, Serial No. 43,325 In Great Britain August 11, 1947 2 Claims. (ems-"ny- This invention relates to variable electrical four-terminal networks, and more particularlyto networks providing attenuation-frequency characteristics which canbe varied by means of one or more adjustable resistances. The networks which are the subject of this invention are particularly useful as regulating networks in carrier telephone systems for the equalisation of open wire lines and cables the attenuation-frequency curves of which vary with temperature and weather conditions.

In networks for this specific purpose it is desirable that the attenuation-frequency characteristic should be variable in such manner that for different adjustments of the variable element the ratios of the changes of attenuation at each frequency from a reference curve are the same, i. e. do not depend on such adjustment. In other words, a network-is required the attenuationfrequency characteristic of which, over a specified frequency range, is given by:

where a, an and av are attenuation functions of the frequency f and K is a numerical factor say between 1 and +1, which is independent of frequency. I

It is already known that characteristics of this type can be obtained approximately in fourterminal networks having attenuation-frequency characteristics variable in accordance with the relation:

where a is the attenuation in decibels, a0 and A are specified functions of the frequency, and 'y is a real parameter depending on the values of the variable network element or elements but not on frequency.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a four terminal network in which this attenuation-frequency characteristic may be obtained and varied and according to the invention such a network can be obtained by using a four terminal network comprising a variable impedance network N with impedance Zn. and arranging for the current in Zn to be substantially independent of the value of Zn, and making Zn to depend on frequency in accordance with the following expression:

where v and A are as defined above and where Z0 depends on the desired function 110.,

' In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a diagram indicating an example of an attenuationf-requencycharacteristic which it may be the object ofthe invention to attain as closely as possible, Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a complete network according to the invention, and Figures 3 to 6 alternative variable networks for incorporation in the complete network.

Figure 1 shows the variable part KavU) of a series of attenuation-frequency characteristics over a limited range which it may be the object of a network according to the invention to attain as closely as possible. This diagram indicates attenuation in decibels plotted against frequency, and the object of the invention is to provide a network the characteristic of which can be varied to approximate any of those shown or any of the intermediate curves.

In Figure 2 a source Ill of alternating voltage is applied through a resistance R1 representing the internalresistance of the source It], to the input terminals I 2, l 3 of a four-terminal network comprising a series impedance M of value Z and a variable shunt impedance I5 of value Zn connected across the output terminals of the network l6, I! by terminals l8, l9.

Various networks may be used for the impedance I5, and one such network is indicated diarammatically in Figure 3. This comprises a four-terminal network'with input terminals l8a, 19a and output terminals 20, 2 I, the latter bein joined by a variable resistance Zr; the impedance presented by the network at its terminals 18a, lBa constitutingthe impedance I5 of Fig. 2.

With an impedance network suchas that shown in Figure'3, it can be shown that if in the general case the network is terminated by an impedance of value Z'r, the impedance presented by the network to the terminals [8a, [9a, that is the impedance looking toward the network is given by:

( r/ 12) +tanh 9 then . Z WIZT. If Ri+Z is sufliciently great in comparison With Zn:

Zn n+2 In order to; make Rr-i-Z: large enough; it;, is; sufficient to make. either-R1, or- Z large enough, butitis, of course permissible-.tomake: both: Bi.- andZlarge. InpracticeRr may bet-he anode,- cathode impedance'of avalve, say: a, triodeor a; pentode and. the E. M. F. V0. may. beappliedito the; signal, grid. of thevalve. In this case the efiective E. F..is uVo, where-u is-the-.amp1ifi.ca. tionof. the valve.

From. Equations,- 5 and. 7 above;-

'Y-i-A RH'TZ.

The. ttenuation can: be.- defined. as:

V a- V0 reference-Volta e (.9)

If /2 'Va istakenas reference. voltage.v we; on. tain.

,v-liA,

= log is called an.

a; OZO+2Q 9519.

This expression will be, seen to be inaccord ance with Equation. 2 above, showing that the desired result is obtained. It will, be, apparent, that in order to utilise the voltage Vs which appears across impedance Zn it.is necessary to. use, an associated load circuit impedance which .is high compared with Zn; the input circuit of a thermionic valve is. a suitable load circuit.

In the foregoing it is, important to note that '7 has been assumed in Equation 2 to be a real number the value of which is independent, of frequency but can be varied by means of. a vari,. able resistor, and this implies, that ZT. is a, resistance, say, R'. Then ==.R./ZI2,. and since. R is real and independent of frequency it is necessary that Z12 also bemade. a constant resistance. However, it is not necessary, though often convenient, to make also Zn a constant resistance. Networks can be designeds' with specified 0, Zn, and Zn, and it is comparatively simple to cle-v not);

'4 sign constant resistance networks, 1. e., networks for which 0 is a specified function of frequency and Z11=Z12=R0 where R0 is a specified constant resistance.

Instead of the relations given by Equations 4, the following equations will also permit Equations, 3; 13031383 reduced to the required form of Equation 2w:

' Ifg-this: set ofirelations is chosen, tanh 0 has to be-made independent of frequency, real and variahla. at willv in, numerical value. This means thatthefour-terminal network can be a purely resistive attenuator with variable attenuation. ZT/Z'Iz, on the other hand, has to vary with frequency. Since Z12, for a network consisting of rcsista-nces;. is: a. resistance. which; does: not vary with. frequency, Zrmust vary with. frequency. i'. e, the-terminating; impedance, must; be. purelyorat; least' partially.- reactive. It. maybe noted; that". when. the attention is. variedthe imageampedances Zn and; Zn must be kept constant. This. makes. it. necessary to alter more: than. one of? the resistances. forming the attenuating fQur-. terminal. network. The resulting networkis-in-i dicatedi diagrammatically; in Figure 4; the: net.- Work 23 comprises input terminals 24, 2.5. and: output terminals 2.6., 2:14,. with therterminatin impedance 28.

A second; typeof-two-terminal impedance. network. which can. be, used withv advantage-gramme;

network: Zn is one; comprisingxtwo. variable. re-. sistances... a resistance 'r aandz a. resistance RM. where 'y.- is the parameter of. variations as; before and Ro...is a, suitable reference resistance.

Fi ure 5' shows. one. such twoeterminalaime. pedance network having, terminals Mb, ISU for: connection to terminal points l8. l9 respectively of the Fig. 2 network; and consisting of two networks 3|, 32 connected: in series. Network 31' comprisesan impedance 33 0f value Z" wholly or partly reactive in character, shunted by a variable resistance 34 of value 7130. 32- comprises an impedance 35 of value Ro /Z which will accordingly be wholly or partly re- F active. in character, shunted by-a'variableresistance 36 of value-Ro/ It can easily be shown that this network presents between terminals 1812,, Nb an impedance of'value iven by.':.

. +-R/Z- Ln Z 7 Ro IVAKRO/Z) f: new. Rois madeequal o Z01 and Bio/Z: equal to A, as defined above, then it will be seen, thatv which isthedesired relation.

Figure 6'sshowsv the dual, orinverse form with respect to R0 of? the impedance network shown in Figure 5; this network comprises two. series. networks 3iaand 32av arranged in parallel between. terminals. I80, I90. Network 31w comprises.- an. impedance 33a of value Z, wholly orpartly reactive, and a series resistance- 34w ofvalue 'yRo. Network 32a includes an impedance 35a of value Ro/Z,.whol ly orpartly reactive, in series with a resistance 36a of value Ro/v.

It can be. shown that, this impedancenetwork The networle presents between terminals I80, 190 a value given y In this case, if R0 is made equal to Z0 and Z/Ru equal to A, then again as before.

In the design of networks in accordance with the invention it is to be remembered that exact concordance of the network characteristic with the ideal as set out in Equation 1 above is not possible, so that any particular design may be dictated by specific conditions or" operation, or it may be desired to attain the best possible approximation to the ideal as expressed by Equation 1. With this in mind, it is possible to analyse the design of networks in accordance with the invention but inasmuch as such analysis will be familiar to those skilled in the art, it is not considered necessary in this specification to dilate upon it.

The resistances which are varied for varying the attenuation characteristic of a network according to the invention may be varied automatically when the network is used as a variable attenuation equaliser. In this case the resistances may be of the type having high temperature coefficients of resistance, the temperature of the resistances being controlled in accordance with the received amplitude of a pilot signal transmitted at constant amplitude.

I claim:

1. A two-terminal impedance network having an impedance characteristic of the form where Zn is the impedance of the network, Z0 is an arbitrary impedance, A is a specified function of frequency and 'y is a real parameter depending upon the variable elements of the network but not upon frequency; said network consisting of two sub-networks serially connected between two terminals, one sub-network consisting of a reactive impedance of value Z and a variable resistance of value 71%, where R0 is numerically equal to Z0, and the other subnetwork consisting of a reactive impedance of value Ro /Z and a variable resistance of value Ro/y, the reactive and resistive impedances of each sub-network being connected in parallel.

2. An impedance network having an impedance characteristic of the form:

where Zn is the impedance of the network, Z0 is an arbitrary impedance, A is a specified function of frequency and 'y is a real parameter depending upon the values of the variable element or elements of the network but not on frequency; said network comprising two inipedances connected in series, one or" said series impedances comprising a reactive impedance of value Z in parallel with a variable resistance of value 71%, and the other of said series impedance comprising an impedance Ro /Z in parallel with a variable resistance of value Ro/v.

WOLJA SARAGA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,019,624 Norton Nov. 5, 1935 2,096,027 Bode Oct. 19, 1937 2,304,545 Clement Dec. 8, 1942 2,348,572 Richardson May 9, 1944 

